Despite no confirmation that a buyer has been found to secure the future of the Brackley-based outfit, autosport.com has learned that with the 2009 car now ready, team personnel have been instructed to get ready to go testing.

It is not clear whether the preparations are advanced enough for the outfit to be in a position to run at next week’s group test at Jerez, but at the latest the team should be able to join the final major get-together at Barcelona later next month.

Is this a sign the team has found a buyer for 2009? Rumours persist that the team is working on a management buy-out which may exclude present principal Nick Fry.

It is not yet clear what engines the team will use at the tests. If it turns out they are planning to use the Mercedes units they have been offered for 2009, that would be a strong sign a deal is close.